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Thai

ชัก

Pronunciation

chák

ชัก

chák

pull

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  1. 1 pull、draw out、withdraw
  2. 2 hoist (by pulling a rope)、operate (with a cord or string)
  3. 3 begin to、gradually become、start to feel
  4. 4 convulse、have a seizure

Its physical core is a controlled pulling motion, either drawing something out or moving it by pulling a rope or string. It is also commonly used for a gradual change beginning to appear and for having a convulsion.

3

begin to、gradually become、start to feel

Adverb⭐️4 Often used

Marks the gradual onset of a state, feeling, or tendency that is beginning to become noticeable.

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4

convulse、have a seizure

Verb⭐️3 Common

Describes having involuntary muscular convulsions, especially a seizure involving much of the body.

Show more (1)

Learning notes

Explanation

In its physical uses, ชัก involves pulling in a particular direction. It is not the default verb for every kind of pulling. It is especially common for drawing an object such as a blade from its holder and for moving something by pulling an attached rope or string. Before a word describing a state, feeling, or evaluation, ชัก signals that a change is beginning to emerge. For example, ชักหิว means “to start getting hungry,” and ชักเบื่อ means “to start getting bored.” Adding แล้ว makes it clearer that the change is already underway. In medical and emergency contexts, ชัก has the separate meaning “to convulse” or “to have a seizure.” The expression อาการชัก refers to convulsive symptoms or a seizure.

Usage

It is used when drawing out an object such as a blade or when operating a flag, kite, or similar object by pulling a rope or string. In everyday conversation, it is very common for describing hunger, sleepiness, boredom, uncertainty, or another state that is beginning to develop. Its convulsion sense occurs in childcare, emergencies, first-aid situations, and descriptions of symptoms in medical settings.

Caution

For simply pulling a door, bag, or other object, ดึง is usually more natural. ชัก is also not the normal choice for deliberately beginning an action: “start eating,” for example, is เริ่มกิน. Use สั่น for trembling from cold or fear and กระตุก for a brief localized twitch. Since ชัก can refer to a seizure, an actual episode may require urgent medical attention.

Differences from similar words

1 pull synonyms

  • ดึง is the general word for pulling something toward you. ชัก is more characteristic of drawing an object out of a holder or pulling it sharply in a particular direction.

  • ถอน emphasizes removing something fixed in place, such as a tooth, weed, or nail. ชัก focuses more on the drawing motion, as when pulling a blade from its sheath.

2 hoist (by pulling a rope) synonyms

  • ยก means to lift or raise in general. ชัก is used when something such as a flag is raised by pulling a rope.

3 begin to synonyms

4 convulse synonyms

  • กระตุก can describe a brief twitch or jerk in one part of the body. ชัก usually refers to more severe convulsions, particularly a seizure.

  • สั่น means to shake or tremble, often from cold, fear, or nervousness. ชัก refers to a convulsive episode, potentially involving loss of awareness or stiffening of the body.

Component words

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